Hello all, this is my first post, i just saw this film for the first time, forgive me if i dont know everyones name or i may sound a bit strange, but i got alot of questions about this film, first off, how does that lady who noodles raped/loved not age when he came back to town all those years ago? WHy did joe pecie(sp) want to kill max's and noodles gang? I never even saw a reason, it like they were friends and then he was trying to hunt down noodles when he was in that smoke place. HOw did the gang die? WHy? did noodles set them up? he talks about that, what were they going to do? ALso, how the hell did max become a senetor? WHat the hell was that? Did he kill himself at the end by jumping into a garbage truck, why was noodles staring at it at the end? WHo stole the money at the train station when noodles returned? Im sorry i guys, i guess this is teh kind of movie that needs repeat viewing, please, can someone help me out with all this stuff so maybe the next time i watch it ill have a better understanding, i hope someone can or just set me up with a FAQ link ir something, thanks

well, what did you really understand in this movie??? My english isn't perfect, but i'll try to explain.

Max made all he could to make noodles betray (?) him.Max had some pact with the police.Max and the police killed the 2 other friends. (and noodles think it is his own fault)Max tried to kill noodles too.Max stole the money (that was why he killed the others).Max was the real betrayer (?).

Max became a senator with this money.Max did perhaps jump in the truck. According to Leone, the important point is that A MAN jumped in the garbage truck, and that FOR NOODLES, it is max. it is symbolic.

The lady (deborah, played by elisabeth mc govern) didn't change for a reason that i can't explain with my poor english, but i'm gonna trie: for a lot of reasons:First, she is maked off (?), and we don't know her real face at this point of the story.Second, in this scene, there is the old noodles, the young max (in fact, his son, or noodles "ghost" son), and the adult deborah: the three times of the movies are in this scene.

For the matter with joe pesci, i can't exactly remember what happened: it is my favorite movie, but i've seen it only 2 times (220 minutes version).

Welcome to the board, and lots of questions, so this should start a good discussion.

I'll try to answer some of your questions.

Deborah's age

Deborah had not aged in the eyes of Noodles, hence the image of her was from his point of view.

How did the gang die?

According to Christopher Frayling's book which contains the outline of the overall story, Noodles pretends to do what they want him to do but but then tricks them into drinking poisoned (or maybe drugged drinks) in Mo's bar. Trivia, the lead member of the gang was played by Mario Brega, who appeared in Leone's dollar westerns as Chico (FOD), Nino (FDM) and Sgt Wallace (GBU).

Max and garbage truck.

There's been a lot of discussion on this board on this subject, I think most people think he jumps inside to kill himself, but there again some people disagree. From an extract from an interview with Leone in Frayling's book he deliberately left the ending vague. Although I believe at least one US version has an additional gunshot from the garbage truck for finality.

Who stole the money?

I think it was Max but could be wrong.

Logged

in these parts a man's life can depend on a mere scrap of information.

Regarding how Max became a senator, I agree that money was important, but also political connections, and the "alliance" between Max and the Union (who's largely developped in the movie).

Remember the scene at the hospital, when the Treat William character (the future Union leader) has just been shot. Another character in that room suggest the idea that after the end of the prohibition, maybe it's time for some of the members of the band to do something else. And James Woods seems very interested by this idea?

If you want to know more about relationships between the mafia and politics, just look at the way that JFK became a president. Look at the relationship between his father and italian mafia....

... and the best thing you can do, ctorello2000, is to see the film once again, at least. It is simply normal that so many questions have arisen in your mind and though the next post are really helpful, I think, you will find the best answers watching again the film.As for reliability, I agree with Shorty Larsen: reality surpass fiction. And Leone knew that very well, so he had a courage other directors didn't and don't have.

[q. Trivia, the lead member of the gang was played by Mario Brega, who appeared in Leone's dollar westerns as Chico (FOD), Nino (FDM) and Sgt Wallace (GBU).

ARE YOU SURE ? Sgt WALLACE (and also the guy who help El Indio to escapr at the beginning of FDM) was very ugly, fat and one-eyed. The gang leader in OUATIA who plays with the young girl tits in the chinese theatre is quite different .